02-04-2011, 07:22 AM
[left]I've finally read all of the posts after months of procrastination. Thank you, Dave and all other contributors. I especially liked the reactions to the person with disdainful remarks towards Ice Fishing.
[/left]
[left] Its exciting to see tip #100 in the distance! Of course you know it needs to be a doozy.
[/left]
[center] As a seat, the upside down bucket is tried and true. The problem, as I see it, is the bucket's qualities depend on gravity, thus turning a bucket upside down renders it useless as a bucket. A board, just big enough to set on top of a upright bucket and small enough to fit inside the bucket is one solution. Bringing a towel as a cushion helps, its a nice way to dry your hands too. It came in handy once when a child stepped in a hole, and I imagine its something that crosses your mind after you climb out of freezing water. A cable survival show demonstrated push ups to raise your core temperature after stripping off your wet clothing, should you fall through.
[/center]
[center]One piece of clothing I strongly recommend is the scarf(ski mask if not), wrap it around in a couple layers all the way up to your eyes in extreme weather. Adding a tissue or paper towel to catch moisture helps too.
[/center]
[center]Get in the habit of putting your gloves in your pockets, or anywhere that keeps them warm when you do take them off.
[/center]
[center]Also, for people new on the ice, remember that sound tends to travel, and cold air makes sound travel better, and I assume ice has acoustic qualities. This, combined with the quite of winter and the lack of obstruction means its very easy to hear other people and its very easy for other people to hear you. So keep incriminating conversations, or rude remarks off the ice. At the same time you might over hear something that proves useful. Music is nice company and probably won't bother anybody if its at a respectful volume, you might ask or distance yourself if your not sure. [/center]
[center]Sled are useful and almost everyone has one. I'm more of a minimalist(poor) so I take what I can carry.
[/center]
[center][#0000bf]PROS[/#0000bf] of the sled. Much more capacity than two hands, weight distribution, seats, pole holders, live well, towing capability, kitchen sink. Yes, if your going out for real ice fishing, on a huge lake, your going to need one.
[/center]
[center][#800000]CONS[/#800000]. Sleds are basically boats that you drag, especially when you have your heavy equipment in them. Though I've never actually used one I can see that not too many people can go up or down rip rap, slopes or any obstacle really. You'll need a boat ramp, a truck and a friend to efficiently load or unload the big ones. Yes, I won't be carrying shelters, cameras, sonar or my bar b que, but I'm fishing quicker, moving quicker and leaving quicker. Today I wish I had a small one, and I do plan on getting one, but my point is you shouldn't feel like its an integral part of ice fishing, in some cases at least. In my case, the lakes are small and its just easier to take my bucket and auger out by hand. I just try my darndest not to fall.
[/center]
[center][#000080]TROUT[/#000080]
[/center]
[left][#0000bf] Its not easy to grab a trout , and it could be damaging to it if you grip excessively. Of course you wet your hands before handling the body of any fish to reduce scale damage. But having a soft mesh net to handle them with is a very good idea. A soaked hand towel or some kind of soft fabric to wrap around the trout stops it from struggling in my experience. Check to see if any scales were removed on your hands or handling material.
[/#0000bf][/left]
[#0000bf]As for the floating dough baits. Most of the people I've talked to have used crappie rigs, I've tried this and I don't like it for ice fishing, but that's probably just me. I've had fairly good luck covering a jig (heavy, round with small hooks) completely, making sure it sinks instead of floats. This gives you the freedom to change depths as frequently as you'd like, plus all the fish I've hooked this way have been hooked in the jaw. Aggressive trout will probably still swallow it, don't use dough in these situations. The jig with dough can be fished like any other jig or supplemented with other baits. In my experience just keeping it still, maybe twitching it once and awhile is the best way, its a perfect choice for a secondary rig. Just as side note I was using 4lb test[/#0000bf]
[#0000ff]Trout will move fast, being a true cold water fish. They like to come in like a kamikaze sometimes, bumping your bait. [/#0000ff]
]
[center]Stringer, live well, ice or bucket?
As soon as I know I'm keeping the fish I sever the spine with my fillet knife and bury it in snow/ice. When I leave I pack them in a grocery bag with a little shaved ice.
[/center]
[center]Some people will just let them flop around to keep them fresh, while all it does is torture the fish and bruises its meat. I've heard of under ice live wells, which might be the best choice for some, or you can create your own aerated live well. This gives you the option to pick and choose your fish harvest.
If you dig a few inches into the ice, two or more holes long, you can create a nice storage spot where there's no chance of them flopping their way to freedom, even after they're dead some fishes reflexes are strong enough to move around the ice. Fill it back in so people can't trip on it. If it's legal to, you can also completely clean your fish on the ice, but remains must be carried off and disposed of.[/center]
[center]
[/center]
[center]A long rope is good but it can't be thrown easy. A bike tire tied to the end will make it possible to throw from a safe distance and it gives the person something easy to grab. I have a long rope connected to a smaller one with a large lead weight tied to it. It was made for a different reason but I thought it was perfect for ice rescues.
[/center]
[center]
[/center]
[center]
[/center]
[center][#bf0000]Don't make large holes![/#bf0000][/center]
[center][#000000][font "Arial"][size 2]A couple days ago a ice surfer was badly injured on a Denver area reservoir [/size][/font][/#000000]. [font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]The hole looked like it was made from several together, Way too big, you can't have anything larger than 12 inches in Colorado, I think, probably the same for every state.[/size][/#000000][/font] [/center]
[center][#000000][font "Arial"][size 2]Sadly around the same time a three year old was found dead in a golf pond. The mother started looking for him and I think the police came before a neighbor spotted the body. Very
case where I surmise the mother's neglect could have been due to social network addiction, but I have no evidence. I haven't heard anymore on the news.[/size][/font][/#000000]
[/center]
[/left]
[left] Its exciting to see tip #100 in the distance! Of course you know it needs to be a doozy.
[/left]
[center] As a seat, the upside down bucket is tried and true. The problem, as I see it, is the bucket's qualities depend on gravity, thus turning a bucket upside down renders it useless as a bucket. A board, just big enough to set on top of a upright bucket and small enough to fit inside the bucket is one solution. Bringing a towel as a cushion helps, its a nice way to dry your hands too. It came in handy once when a child stepped in a hole, and I imagine its something that crosses your mind after you climb out of freezing water. A cable survival show demonstrated push ups to raise your core temperature after stripping off your wet clothing, should you fall through.
[/center]
[center]One piece of clothing I strongly recommend is the scarf(ski mask if not), wrap it around in a couple layers all the way up to your eyes in extreme weather. Adding a tissue or paper towel to catch moisture helps too.
[/center]
[center]Get in the habit of putting your gloves in your pockets, or anywhere that keeps them warm when you do take them off.
[/center]
[center]Also, for people new on the ice, remember that sound tends to travel, and cold air makes sound travel better, and I assume ice has acoustic qualities. This, combined with the quite of winter and the lack of obstruction means its very easy to hear other people and its very easy for other people to hear you. So keep incriminating conversations, or rude remarks off the ice. At the same time you might over hear something that proves useful. Music is nice company and probably won't bother anybody if its at a respectful volume, you might ask or distance yourself if your not sure. [/center]
[center]Sled are useful and almost everyone has one. I'm more of a minimalist(poor) so I take what I can carry.
[/center]
[center][#0000bf]PROS[/#0000bf] of the sled. Much more capacity than two hands, weight distribution, seats, pole holders, live well, towing capability, kitchen sink. Yes, if your going out for real ice fishing, on a huge lake, your going to need one.
[/center]
[center][#800000]CONS[/#800000]. Sleds are basically boats that you drag, especially when you have your heavy equipment in them. Though I've never actually used one I can see that not too many people can go up or down rip rap, slopes or any obstacle really. You'll need a boat ramp, a truck and a friend to efficiently load or unload the big ones. Yes, I won't be carrying shelters, cameras, sonar or my bar b que, but I'm fishing quicker, moving quicker and leaving quicker. Today I wish I had a small one, and I do plan on getting one, but my point is you shouldn't feel like its an integral part of ice fishing, in some cases at least. In my case, the lakes are small and its just easier to take my bucket and auger out by hand. I just try my darndest not to fall.
[/center]
[center][#000080]TROUT[/#000080]
[/center]
[left][#0000bf] Its not easy to grab a trout , and it could be damaging to it if you grip excessively. Of course you wet your hands before handling the body of any fish to reduce scale damage. But having a soft mesh net to handle them with is a very good idea. A soaked hand towel or some kind of soft fabric to wrap around the trout stops it from struggling in my experience. Check to see if any scales were removed on your hands or handling material.
[/#0000bf][/left]
[#0000bf]As for the floating dough baits. Most of the people I've talked to have used crappie rigs, I've tried this and I don't like it for ice fishing, but that's probably just me. I've had fairly good luck covering a jig (heavy, round with small hooks) completely, making sure it sinks instead of floats. This gives you the freedom to change depths as frequently as you'd like, plus all the fish I've hooked this way have been hooked in the jaw. Aggressive trout will probably still swallow it, don't use dough in these situations. The jig with dough can be fished like any other jig or supplemented with other baits. In my experience just keeping it still, maybe twitching it once and awhile is the best way, its a perfect choice for a secondary rig. Just as side note I was using 4lb test[/#0000bf]
[#0000ff]Trout will move fast, being a true cold water fish. They like to come in like a kamikaze sometimes, bumping your bait. [/#0000ff]
]
[center]Stringer, live well, ice or bucket?
As soon as I know I'm keeping the fish I sever the spine with my fillet knife and bury it in snow/ice. When I leave I pack them in a grocery bag with a little shaved ice.
[/center]
[center]Some people will just let them flop around to keep them fresh, while all it does is torture the fish and bruises its meat. I've heard of under ice live wells, which might be the best choice for some, or you can create your own aerated live well. This gives you the option to pick and choose your fish harvest.
If you dig a few inches into the ice, two or more holes long, you can create a nice storage spot where there's no chance of them flopping their way to freedom, even after they're dead some fishes reflexes are strong enough to move around the ice. Fill it back in so people can't trip on it. If it's legal to, you can also completely clean your fish on the ice, but remains must be carried off and disposed of.[/center]
[center]
[/center]
[center]A long rope is good but it can't be thrown easy. A bike tire tied to the end will make it possible to throw from a safe distance and it gives the person something easy to grab. I have a long rope connected to a smaller one with a large lead weight tied to it. It was made for a different reason but I thought it was perfect for ice rescues.
[/center]
[center]
[/center]
[center]
[/center]
[center][#bf0000]Don't make large holes![/#bf0000][/center]
[center][#000000][font "Arial"][size 2]A couple days ago a ice surfer was badly injured on a Denver area reservoir [/size][/font][/#000000]. [font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]The hole looked like it was made from several together, Way too big, you can't have anything larger than 12 inches in Colorado, I think, probably the same for every state.[/size][/#000000][/font] [/center]
[center][#000000][font "Arial"][size 2]Sadly around the same time a three year old was found dead in a golf pond. The mother started looking for him and I think the police came before a neighbor spotted the body. Very
case where I surmise the mother's neglect could have been due to social network addiction, but I have no evidence. I haven't heard anymore on the news.[/size][/font][/#000000] [/center]